Tag Archives: emp label group

Dave Ellefson Announces 1st “Basstory” Tour Dates

Hey Fiends, I got this bit of touring news that will definitely appeal to you bass heads. Well, also any fans of Dave Ellefson and his numerous adventures. Check it out.

tour posters, dave ellefson basstory

The Press Release:
Grammy Award Winning Megadeth bassist, author, entrepreneur, and Metal Icon David Ellefson has announced the first dates for his BASSTORY tour, a series of limited and exclusive “Storytellers” dates, starting 9/21 in Portland. Dubbed “Basstory: An Intimate Evening of Riffs and Repartee with David Ellefson”, the show combines solo bass performance with David’s celebrated brand of storytelling, as he recounts intimate details of his struggles and triumphs in the name of Rock N’ Roll. BASSTORY will also include special VIP meet and greets, exclusive merchandise, and more.

Says Ellefson, “I have always done clinics, and a few years ago did an amazing spoken word tour in Australia to support my book My Life With ‘Deth, and have always welcomed the opportunity to be able to meet and connect with fans on a more intimate level. These important parts of my professional life converged to create BASSTORY. Not only will fans get to hear some of their favorite bass riffs, but the stories behind them. It’s not often I get to get into small, intimate Rock clubs, the way this all started, and I’m excited for fans to get to experience this show.”
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EMP Label Group Signs The Killer Dwarfs

The other day the folks over at EMP Label Group unveiled their plans about an “Outlaw Country” imprint and this followed the news about the long hoped for return of “Combat Records”; Clearly they are aiming to keep the Metal hungers fed as this news about the signing of the Killer Dwarfs outlines. Check it out.

The Press Release:
Canadian Metal favorites KiLLeR DWaRfS have signed to EMP LABEL GROUP, who are set to release the band’s long awaited live set LIVE, NO GUFF in stores April 13th. 2018 will also see EMP reissues of the band’s recent catalog, including the independently released START@ONE, the band’s previously unreleased studio album from 1993, and WIRELESS, the solo acoustic release from vocalist RUSS DWARF. EMP will also release a 2019 new studio album from Killer Dwarfs, and a new studio album from RUSS DWARF.

Recorded live in November 2016 in various exotic Northern locales including Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, and Whitehorse Yukon, Canada, LIVE, NO GUFF is a collection of the Dwarfs at their vertically challenged finest, powering through blistering performances of 3 decades of classic tracks including “Stand Tall”, “Keep The Spirit Alive”, “Dirty Weapons”, “Heavy Mental Breakdown”, and more.


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EMP Label Group Announces “EMP Outlaw” Southern Rock/Outlaw Country Imprint

2018 is here and making sure that you have all the necessary tools in your arsenal to Rock straight out of the gates. This press release educates us in the formation of the brand new extension of the EMP Label Group family. Take a look below.

The Press Release:
EMP LABEL GROUP has announced the formation of EMP OUTLAW, a Southern Rock/Outlaw Country Imprint, set to reissue “METAL COWBOY”, the 2014 independent release from legendary Steeler/Keel vocalist Ron Keel, in stores 3/2/18. 2018 will also see the studio debut from Ron Keel Band, the highly anticipated follow up to “METAL COWBOY”, entitled “FIGHT LIKE A BAND”.

After a storied career that began as lead vocalist for Steeler, which would also go on to include guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen , and selling millions of records under his eponymous KEEL with classic albums “THE RIGHT TO ROCK” and “THE FINAL FRONTIER” (both Produced by KISS’ Gene Simmons), Keel veered off into brave new territory with the decidedly Southern Rock/Outlaw Country feel of “METAL COWBOY”

“METAL COWBOY RELOADED” features remixed and remastered versions of the tracks from the original independent release, featuring a star studded lineup of guest musicians including Frank Hannon (Tesla), Mike Vanderhule (Y&T), Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot), Travis Toy (Rascal Flatts) and more, including fan favorite tracks “Just Like Tennessee” and “What Would Skynyrd Do?” , plus the bonus track “Rock N Roll Hell” featuring Troy Lucketta (Tesla) on drums and Jeff Labar/Eric Brittingham from Cinderella on guitar and bass.
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EMP Label Group Announces The Relaunch Of Combat Records

The Press Release:
David Ellefson of Megadeth, via his label EMP LABEL GROUP, has announced the relaunch of *COMBAT RECORDS*, the seminal Punk/Thrash label that started *Megadeth’s* career.

Most will remember Combat Records as one of the seminal thrash labels of the 1980s, their most prominent artist being, of course, Megadeth. Combat was also home to Helstar, Circle Jerks, Exodus, Nuclear Assault, and many of the most influential Metal and Punk bands of all time.

After a handful of ownership changes and attempted reboots, COMBAT went dormant in the mid-2000s, the catalog got absorbed by SONY, and the label itself ceased to exist. In 2016, David Ellefson, with his partner Thom Hazaert from EMP Label Group, did the due diligence to research and acquire the intellectual property for the COMBAT RECORDS brand, and bring it home to the EMP family.

With the utmost respect to the legacy of the past, COMBAT will relaunch in 2018 as an imprint of EMP LABEL GROUP, releasing not only new releases from classic Thrash and Metal artists, but as a home for new and up and coming artists as well. The first tentative COMBAT releases in 2018 will be the North American release of the upcoming studio album from legendary NWOBHM titans RAVEN, a limited edition classic B-sides release from HELSTAR, (both original COMBAT artists) and new releases from CT Hardcore/Metal staples *Dead By Wednesday* and 80’s progressive thrash favorites WRATH.
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EMP Label Group Signs Detroit’s Madam X

Here’s some industry news from the folks at the EMP Label Group and their recent signing of the band Madam X. Do you remember this band at all? If not its understandable as they were a bit of an underground act that more people needed to rally behind before they ceased activity. Well, now they are back and you can learn more below. See you at the close with my editorial views.

The Press Release:
Legendary Detroit Hard Rockers MADAM X have signed a deal with EMP LABEL GROUP, who will release their long-awaited sophomore release MONSTROCITY on October 31st, (October 27th in EUROPE) on CD and Digital, with a limited edition vinyl release planned for November. Produced by Madam X at Metro 37 Studios in Rochester Hills, MI, and Mixed by Michael Wagener (MEGADETH, METALLICA, SKID ROW, OZZY OSBOURNE), with additional mixing by Mark Slaughter, Monstrocity is a hard-hitting classic Metal/Rock record sure to serve as a proper return to form for Madam X, and a kick in the ass for fans old and new.

Formed in 1981 by sisters Roxy and Maxine Petrucci, Madam X recruited bassist Chris “Godzilla” Doliber and vocalist Bret Kaiser, who released their classic, Rick Derringer produced, Jet Records debut WE RESERVE THE RIGHT in 1984, spawning the hit Rock single “High in High School”. 4 years later, after Roxy departed to join future Arena Rock superstars VIXEN, and original vocalist Kaiser was briefly replaced by an unknown Canadian vocalist named Sebastian Bach, Madam X disbanded, and would remain mostly inactive until 2014, when the original lineup reunited at the Sweden Rock Festival.
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